‘Hero’ Muslim who saved Christians honoured by Kenyans

A social media campaign to raise funds for the family of a Muslim teacher who died protecting Christians during an attack in Kenya is gaining traction, with people hailing him as a “genuine hero” and a symbol of the country.

Salah Farah was shot after refusing to be separated from Christian passengers during an al-Shabab attack on a bus travelling from Mandera to Nairobi last month.

He succumbed to his wounds on Sunday, leaving behind four young children aged between two and 10, and a pregnant wife who is expected to give birth as soon as next week.

After his death, an online campaign was started to raise funds for the teacher’s family.

“Salah is a hero,” Abdullahi Derow, the 26-year-old activist who started the #HeroSalah Twitter campaign, told Al Jazeera.

“He was the only male child in his family, his father is now very old and his kids are very small,” Nairobi-based Derow, who is also from Mandera, said.